Conveying arrangement for containers

ABSTRACT

A container-conveying arrangement is disclosed, having an endless guided conveyor chain with replaceable chain-guiding and containerengagable conveying caps or pads forming an articulated shingled or saw-toothed conveying surface. The basic conveyor chain and cap assembly is disclosed in several containerconveying embodiments, namely a container elevator, a container lowerator or lowering conveyor, and a horizontal container conveyor, the elevator and lowerator each having two opposed parallel conveyor chains with interfacing shingled conveying caps forming opposed articulated saw-toothed conveying surfaces, and the horizontal conveyor having a single length of endless chain with shingled caps forming an articulated saw-toothed generally horizontal conveying surface.

Umted States Patent 1151 3,703,953 Barker 1 Nov. 28, 1972 [54] CONVEYING ARRANGENIENT mR 1,707,088 3/1929 Lynch 198/ l 89 CONTAINERS Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka 7 2] Inventor xzeynardma. C Barker, Temple Ter Attomey patrick J. Walsh [73] Assignee: Bangor Punta (lperations, Inc., New [57] ABSTRACT York, NY.

A contamer-conveymg arrangement is disclosed, hav- Filed! ay 1971 ing an endless guided-conveyor chain with replaceable 21 A L N 147,682 chain-guiding and containerengagable conveying caps 1 pp 0 or pads forming an articulated shingled or saw-toothed Related US. Application Data conveying surface. The basic conveyor chain and cap assembly is disclosed in several container-conveying Continuation of Ser. No. 788,136, 7 Dec. 31, 1968, abandoned.

embodiments, namely a container elevator, a container lowerator or lowering conveyor, and a horizontal container conveyor, the elevator and lowerator each having two opposed parallel conveyor chains with interfacing shingled conveying caps forming opposed articulated saw-toothed conveying surfaces, and the horizontal conveyor having a single length of endless chain with shingled caps forming an articulated saw-toothed generally horizontal conveying surface.

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UHEET lSUF 18 MAYNARb c. BARKER INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENTEDNBV 3.703.953 SHEET 170F 18 MAYNARD t. BARKER INVENTOR ATTOR NEY PATENTED W I972 3.703. 953 SHEET 18UF 18 MAYNARD c. BARKER INVENTOR ATTORNEY CONVEYING ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTAINERS This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 788,136 filed Dec. 31, 1968 now abandoned.

This invention relates to container conveying devices, and more particularly to conveying arrangements for cans or other similar containers, being of especial value in the conveying of filled or partially filled cans which are desired to be raised or lowered, or to be moved horizontally or in some combination of vertical and horizontal movement from one location to another, as in handling and processing cans during manufacture or subsequent manipulation thereof in various process operations.

In the container industry, and particularly the can handling and processing industry, there has existed a need for a more positive and effective apparatus for moving a can or other container in the filled state. A can which is completely filled with non-homogeneous material or which is only partially filled, as is very often the situation, is relatively unstable in its weight distribution, due to the uneven and easily shiftable distribution of the contents, especially in the case of liquid, particle, or combined liquid and particle material. In addition, the substantial added weight of the contents relative to that of an empty can presents an added problem which must be overcome in effectively conveying full cans as distinguished from the lighter weight empty cans.

Various methods and apparatus have been employed to solve these problems with varying degrees of success, including end grip elevators and lowering apparatus employing generally rough surfaced opposed endless belts. These belt type friction gripping apparatus leave much to be desired, due to their lack of positive conveying control action and their own selfadded problem of container contamination, especially when handling unsealed containers, the lack of adequate positive conveying control action on filled cans often being particularly troublesome. In addition, various chain conveyors have been developed, including chains with a flat articulated conveying surface formed by flat topped articulated conveyingelements, of crescent, rectangular, and other plan configurations, secured to or formed on the links. These various flexible or articulated flat surfaced conveyors have met with some substantial degree of success, but have left much to be desired in the way of more positive conveying action on the cans, and especially filled cans.

It is accordingly a major feature of this invention to provide a container conveyor arrangement of the end engaging type which is more positive in conveying action on the cans or other containers, yet which permits the conveyor to continue to run without damage in the event of jam-ups or stoppages of flow of the containers.

It is a further feature to provide a conveyor arrangement which provides a desired degree of positive conveying action while reducing the surface contamination problem, particularly as compared to rough surfaced belt conveyors.

Still another feature is the provision of a chain conveyor arrangement which provides an articulated sawtoothed conveying surface formed of individual-linkcarried conveying caps which are individually easily removable and replaceable.

A further feature lies in the provision of end gripping elevator and lowering arrangements which operate on the end gripping principle, and which provide a desired degree of positive container conveying control.

Another feature is a conveyor chain arrangement employing standard chain links which may preferably be of the roller type, and which incorporates replaceable conveying caps which may be replaced without removal of the securing element or elements holding the chain link pins in place, and in one embodiment without removal or unsecuring of the chain connecting mounting pin for the caps, thereby enabling more easy replacement of the conveying and replacement of such caps at otherwise difficult or impossible replacement zones.

It is a still further feature to provide an articulated capped chain conveyor arrangement employing removable and replaceable wear strip guides for bearing and guiding engagement by the caps, the wear strip guides having mirror-reversible bearing and guiding surfaces for engagement by thecaps and for guided spaced suspension of the chain therebetween.

A further feature is the provision of a container lowering arrangement of the end-gripping type and which provides for a desirable degree of positive conveying action along its conveying path, including a down-flow conveying run, while providing for substantially positive blocking of dropping or falling of the containers through the down-flow run, as during operation or in the stopped condition of the conveyor, such being of particular importance and value in the lowering conveying of filled cans which in the absence of positive control are very prone to sliding and falling along and through a down-run as in the prior friction belt lowering apparatus.

Still other objects, features and attendant advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art, from a reading of the following detailed description of several physical embodiments constructed in accordance with the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

. FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation illustration of an elevator according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, the sprocket wheels and chain and cap assemblies being only indicated in diagrammatic phantom for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the container flow relationships of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration in diameteral plan section through the lower sprocket wheels, of the inflow zone of the elevator of FIGS. 1 and 2, in the zone of the lower sprocket wheels and conveyor chain and caps guided thereby.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view in front elevation of a fragmentary illustrative section of the elevating run of the conveying caps and cans in the elevator of FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveyor surface saw-tooth depth being exaggerated for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, in partial section, of the conveyor chain, cap and guide arrangement according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view in partial section and partial phantom line for clarity of illustration of an illustrative section of the conveying chain and cap assembly.

FIG. 8 is a side view in partial longitudinal center section of the section of conveying chain and cap assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9-14 are section views taken respectively on lines 9-9 through 14l4 of FIG. 8. 

1. A conveying assembly for conveying a plurality of generally flat-bottomed containers such as cans arranged in a line comprising: a link chain having a plurality of links, and a corresponding plurality of removably replaceable conveying caps secured respectively and sequentially to said links, each of said conveying caps having a conveying surface for conveying a plurality of generally flat-bottomed containers arranged in a line, said conveying surface being tapered toward the longitudinal axis of said chain links in the leading edge direction thereof to form an individually replaceable articulated discontinuous sequential sawtooth longitudinally extending lateral conveying surface, and said caps having mutually interfitting arcuate leading and trailing edges.
 2. A conveying chain assembly according to claim 1, said conveying surface on each of said caps being tapered substantially continuously from the trailing edge to the leading edge of said cap.
 3. A conveying chain assembly according to claim 2, said taper on said conveying surfaces being substantially constant along the entire conveying surface.
 4. A conveying chain assembly according to claim 1, said caps having convexly arcuate leading edges and concavely arcuate trailing edges.
 5. A conveying chain assembly according to claim 1, said link chain having sequential overlapping alternately external and internal side link plates with connecting pins extending therethrough at the zone of overlap, said pins securing said caps to said side plates.
 6. A conveying chain assembly according to claim 5, said link plates being formed of rigid metal, and said conveying caps being formed of wear resistant plastic having greater resilience than said metal link plates.
 7. A conveying chain assembly according to claim 6, said caps being formed of two different materials, one of which is wear resistant and of higher coefficient of friction than the other, the higher coefficient of friction material forming said conveying surface of said caps, the lower coefficient of friction material forming the opposite under face of said caps for running sliding bearing engagement with a guide surface.
 8. A conveying chain assembly according to claim 7, said cap materials being formed in two interbonded layers.
 9. A conveying chain assembly according to claim 5, said caps each having a bore formed therein with a concentric counterbore therefor formed in the conveying surface thereof, and said pins extending through the respective ones of said bores to secure said caps to said plates, and securing elements secured to said pins and recessed in said counterbores and thereby securing said caps to said link chain.
 10. A conveying chain assembly according to claim 9, said link plates being interjoined in articulated relation by spaced tubular units each including a central tubular element which extends through its respective said plates and forms a plate-securing annular lip extending beyond the laterally outer face of each of its respectively parallel secured plates, each of said caps having a counterbore face recess coaxial with its said bore and facing said link plates, the plate-securing annular lips on said plates extending into and fitting within the respective said counterbore recesses in the respective caps and enabling said plates to fit in faCing contiguous relation with said caps to provide a low pressure backing for said caps by said plates along a relatively large surface area.
 11. A conveying chain assembly according to claim 5, each of said caps having a laterally central longitudinally extending channel recess bounded by longitudinally extending shoulders formed on its rear face opposite said conveying surface for aligning each of said caps with the respective said link plates, said caps being secured to said link plates, and each of said link plates being disposed in secured interfacing relation within said longitudinal channel in a respective said conveying cap, said caps being alternately thicker and thinner in the longitudinal zone of said laterally central channel recess by an amount corresponding to the effective overlapping thickness of the outer of said link plates, whereby said conveying surfaces are disposed in a substantially regular sawtooth surface alignment.
 12. A conveying chain arrangement according to claim 11, further comprising longitudinally extending spaced raised guide walls formed on the rear face of said caps and forming said shoulders bounding said recess, said raised guide walls having substantially equal heights from the laterally outer rear facing surface of said caps on all of said caps, each of said caps having substantially equal corresponding thicknesses along the corresponding longitudinal zones of said laterally outer rear facing surfaces of said caps, whereby said laterally outer rear facing surfaces may ride on common spaced guide surfaces, with said taper conveying surfaces of said caps being disposed in a regular sawtooth surface alignment.
 13. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: guide means forming a pair of spaced longitudinally extending guides having a longitudinal recess formed therebetween, said link chain being disposed in said recess, and caps being disposed in riding relation on said spaced guides.
 14. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 13, said guide means comprising a channel member having a central longitudinal web and two upstanding longitudinal legs forming said spaced longitudinally extending guides.
 15. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 14, said channel member being a C-channel member, and said spaced guides being formed by the inturned faces of the legs of said C-channel member.
 16. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 15, said first and second guide surfaces each further including a second pair of oppositely facing load bearing surfaces each spaced from one of the first mentioned said load bearing surfaces by the respective said lateral centering surface, said second pair of oppositely facing load bearing surfaces being spaced apart a lesser distance than said first mentioned load bearing surfaces, longitudinally extending spaced raised guide walls formed on the rear face of said caps and forming said shoulders bounding said recess, said raised guide walls having substantially equal heights from the laterally outer rear facing surface of said caps on all of said caps, each of said caps having substantially equal corresponding thicknesses along the corresponding longitudinal zones of said laterally outer rear facing surfaces of said caps, whereby said laterally outer rear facing surfaces may ride on common spaced guide surfaces, with said tapered conveying surfaces of said caps being disposed in a regular sawtooth surface alignment, the load bearing surfaces of the selected ones of said guide surfaces being engaged respectively by said laterally outer rear facing surfaces and the rear face of said raised guide walls formed on said caps, and said raised guide walls of said caps riding between the respective adjacent said lateral guide surfaces.
 17. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 13, said pair of guides each having a pair of reversible substantially identical first And second guide-surfaces for load bearing and lateral centering engagement by the adjacent underface of said caps during passage of said chain and caps past said guides, support means for said guides, and means removably securing each of said guides to said guide support means with a respective selected one of said first and second guide surfaces facing and in engagement with the respective undersurfaces of the instant adjacent said caps, and the instant respective adjacent section of said chain being disposed in spaced relation between said guides.
 18. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 15, said guides being symmetrical in cross section, said first and second guide surfaces on said guides each including oppositely facing load bearing surfaces and a respective adjoining lateral centering surface, said lateral centering surfaces on each said guide facing in the same direction and facing the centering surfaces on the other said guide.
 19. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 18, said link side plates being flat with parallel sides and smoothly arcuate ends, each of said conveying caps having a rear longitudinally extending parallel walled channel formed therein and in which said links are disposed in substantially laterally complementary relation.
 20. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 19, each said conveying cap having longitudinally extending lateral guide surface formed on opposite sides of its said channel and separated from said channel by two spaced raised guide walls one on each side of said channel, each of said lateral guide surfaces on said caps being disposed in lateral face alignment for engagement by a common external facing guide surface.
 21. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 20, said longitudinal channels being of alternately deeper and shallower depth as a function of the longitudinally alternately overlapping spaced position of said link plates along said chain, and said caps thereby comprising two sets of caps, one set having deeper longitudinal channels than the other set.
 22. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 21, said caps with said shallower longitudinal channels having their respective said channel open at both longitudinal ends and opening at one longitudinal end onto an end recess formed on the rear face of the respective cap and extending laterally across the rear face thereof to accommodate angular motion of the adjacent link plate, said end recess having a depth substantially the same as the depth of said deeper longitudinal channels in the channeled caps.
 23. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 22, said caps being comprised of two different materials one of which is wear resistant and of higher coefficient of friction than the other, the higher coefficient of friction material forming the article-engaging and conveying wear surface, the lower coefficient of friction material forming said lateral guide surfaces and raised guide walls on the back face of said caps.
 24. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 23, said caps being formed of two bonded layers of said materials, one of said layers forming said article-engaging and conveying wear surface, the other of said layers forming said lateral guide surfaces and raised guide walls on the back face of said caps.
 25. A conveyor chain assembly for conveying generally flat-bottomed containers such as cans comprising: a link chain having successive alternate overlapping pairs of link side plates and corresponding connecting pins pivotally pinning said successive pairs together sequentially at the zone of overlap of said side plates, and a plurality of article-engaging conveying caps in sequential order along said chain, each of said caps being disposed in removably secured relation against the outer face of a respective link side plate of said pairs of link side plates, each of said conveying caps having an article-engaging and coNveying wear face facing away from the adjoining face of its respective said side plate and which is tapered toward the longitudinal center line of said link chain in the direction of the leading edge of said conveying caps to form a sequentially longitudinally shingled articulated conveying cap surface for conveying a plurality of generally flat-bottomed containers arranged in a line, and said caps having confronting leading and trailing edges having with one of said edges being arcuate.
 26. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 25, said connecting pins extending laterally beyond said link side plates and through respective bores formed respectively in each of said caps, and removable securing means securing said caps onto and about said pins and in secured engagement with said links.
 27. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 26, said connecting pins and side link plates being secured together as a composite unit independent of said cap securing means for securing said cap to said pins and links.
 28. A conveyor chain assembly according to claim 26, further comprising bushings connecting alternate pairs of link side plates together, said connecting pins connecting the other alternate link side plates together and having a shoulder formed thereon on one side engaging and securing a respective link side plate in position, a removable securing element disposed in link plate securing relation on the opposite end of said pin, said pins having a pin extension beyond said shoulder onto which said caps are removably secured, a removable securing element secured to said pin extension and securing said caps to said chain, said removable cap-securing element being disposed in a recess in and beneath the article engaging wear face of its respective cap.
 29. A chain conveyor arrangement for conveying a plurality of containers such as cans arranged in a line comprising: an endless articulated link chain having a plurality of associated conveying caps secured to the links thereof, each of said caps having a conveying surface opposite said chain and which is unidirectionally tapered in the longitudinal direction of said chain to form a generally sawtoothed discontinuous conveying surface for conveying a plurality of containers arranged in a line, each of said caps having leading and trailing edges, and adjacent caps in said chains having confronting, arcuate leading and trailing edges, and guide means for guiding said caps along a desired article-conveying path.
 30. A conveying assembly for conveying a plurality of flat-bottomed containers such as cans arranged in a line comprising: a link chain having a plurality of links, and a corresponding plurality of removably replaceable conveying caps secured respectively and sequentially to said links, each of said conveying caps having a conveying surface for conveying a plurality of flat-bottomed containers arranged in a line, said conveying surface being tapered toward the longitudinal axis of said chain links in the leading edge direction thereof to form an individually replaceable articulated discontinuous sequential sawtooth longitudinally extending lateral conveying surface, said chain being formed of sequential link plates, each of said caps having a laterally central longitudinally extending channel recess bounded by longitudinally extending shoulders formed on its face opposite said conveying surface for aligning each of said caps with a respective contiguous said link plate of a set of two paralleled spaced apart link plates, and each said link plate being disposed in secured interfacing contiguous relation within said longitudinal channel in a respective said conveying cap.
 31. A conveying assembly for conveying a plurality of flat-bottomed containers such as cans arranged in a line comprising: a link chain having a plurality of links, and a corresponding plurality of removably replaceable conveying caps secured reSpectively and sequentially to said links, each of said conveying caps having a conveying surface for conveying a plurality of flat-bottomed containers arranged in a line, said conveying surface being tapered toward the longitudinal axis of said chain links in the leading edge direction thereof to form an individually replaceable articulated discontinuous sequential sawtooth longitudinally extending lateral conveying surface, said chain being formed of sequential interconnected link plates, each of said caps having formed on its link-plate-engaging surface a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending raised guide walls forming therebetween a longitudinally extending central channel groove in which a respective said side plate is removably secured in interfacing aligned relation, said guide walls having oppositely laterally outwardly facing shoulders spaced from the lateral sides of said caps to define in conjunction with the adjoining respective laterally outer rear face surfaces of said caps a pair of side guide rail longitudinal surfaces generally oppositely L-shaped in cross section for guided engagement with complementary spaced longitudinal guide surfaces against which said rear surfaces of caps may ride and between which said chain link plates may ride.
 32. A conveying chain assembly according to claim 31, said side guide longitudinal surfaces having a smooth arcuately curved configuration in cross section at the angle intersection zone between said raised guide walls and the laterally outer rear face surfaces of said caps. 